Maktaba مكتبة

Twice a year, Omar's father leads large herds of camels from the Sudan to the camel market in southern Egypt. It's a difficult desert journey of twenty days, with many hazards--heat and cold, sandstorms, bandits, thirst . . . and always, loneliness. Nonetheless, twelve-year-old Omar longs to make the trip and prove that he is nearly a man. At last he gets the chance. But when he makes friends with one of the young camels, Omar realizes that a person may have to make difficult choices between important things: obedience--versus following what his heart tells him.

Carefully researched, including review by an American woman who actually accompanied a camel drive, this book describes an age-old aspect of life in northeastern Africa that still goes on today. It offers something new for students (grades 3 to 6) learning about Africa and desert life--and an exciting story, with many lively illustrations by an Egyptian artist.

(Description courtesy of www.elsamarston.com)